Preview: Five talking points ahead of Bolton Wanderers v Brentford

As Wanderers prepare to host current relegation rivals Brentford, bwfc.co.uk highlights five talking points ahead of the Whites' Sky Bet Championship clash with the Bees on Saturday

1. £15 tickets

Bolton Wanderers needs you! Phil Parkinson's men host Brentford this Saturday and supporters can watch the game at Macron Stadium for just £15 for adults and £7 for concessions!

Slow starts see both teams currently reside in the Sky Bet Championship relegation zone, but will Bolton will be determined to make home advantage count this weekend.

And with both sides hungry for three points on Saturday as they look to kickstart their respective seasons, Wanderers need their twelfth man more than ever as they look to establish themselves back in the second tier!

Be loud, be proud and back the boys! Tickets are can be purchased in person at Bolton Central or by calling 0844 871 2932, option 2 then option 1. Alternatively, supporters can book their tickets online by clicking HERE.

2. 'Six-pointer'

While it might only be September and the Trotters have 38 games left to play, Saturday's game is as close to a 'six-pointer' as you can get at this early stage of the season.

With Wanderers and Brentford both yet to taste victory in the league this year, a small gap is already beginning to emerge between the division's relegation zone and the rest of the table.

Only two points separate the Whites and the Bees going into Saturday's game, meaning a victory on could be massive to either side as they look to climb up the table.

And while it is still early in the season and there is still plenty of time to make up any deficit, three points would give either side a much-needed confidence boost heading into the final week of fixtures before the October international break.

3. Losing run

Bolton will be keen to put recent form behind them as they return to league action on Saturday off the back of five successive defeats in all competitions.

Still searching for a first league win of the season, the Trotters will be desperate to end their recent wretched run in what will be their last home game for three weeks when they host Brentford.

With challenging trips to Bristol City and Aston Villa looming, Wanderers will be well aware how important a maiden victory could be before the next international break.

4. Goalscoring drought

The Whites claimed an unwanted record away at West Ham United in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night as they equalled a club record five games without scoring.

Their last goal in all competitions came back in August as Jem Karacan's looping header clinched a cup victory over Sheffield Wednesday, while Gary Madine scored the Trotters' last league goal courtesy of his consolation effort against Derby County.

Determined not to make it a record-breaking sixth game in a row on Saturday, Bolton will be hoping they have their shooting boots with them when they take to the field against Brentford on Saturday.

5. Changes

Having field a rotated side away at West Ham in midweek, Reece Burke, Josh Cullen and Jem Karacan should all return to the Trotters' matchday squad against Brentford.

Burke and Cullen were both ineligible to face their parent club, while Karacan was also left at home as he is one booking away from suspension.

Ben Alnwick could return in goal in place of Mark Howard if he recovers from the neck injury that prevented him from travelling to the London Stadium, while Gary Madine is expected to start in attack after Adam Le Fondre and Aaron Wilbraham were handed opportunities to impress in midweek.

Elsewhere, Andrew Taylor made his return from a calf injury on Tuesday while Jeff King was handed his Wanderers debut, leaving Phil Parkinson with decisions to make heading into Saturday's clash with the Bees.

Report: Bolton Wanderers 0-3 Brentford

Wanderers were beaten in their latest Sky Bet Championship outing as Brentford took all three points back to London on Saturday afternoon.

The deadlock was broken by the visitors against the run of play late on in the first half, with Yoann Barbet’s 30-yard free-kick giving Ben Alnwick absolutely no chance.

The Bees then doubled their lead with 63 minutes on the clock, with Nico Yennaris thundering the ball home from a similar distance to his teammate, before Ollie Watkins added a third with six minutes from time with a powerful strike inside the area.

TEAM NEWS

Wanderers made a number of changes from their midweek cup clash away at West Ham, with Gary Madine and Adam Armstrong coming into the fray alongside Reece Burke and Josh Cullen who missed the trip to the London Stadium as part of the terms of their respective loan agreements.

FIRST HALF

The home side started brightly in the clash with Brentford under pressure from the outset, while Armstrong came within inches of forcing the ball home inside three minutes, only for Daniel Bentley to smother the ball away from the forward’s feet with him just two yards out from goal.

The on-loan Newcastle man came within inches of opening the scoring soon after too, with him just failing to connect with Antonee Robinson’s low cross.

A clash of heads between Jem Karacan and John Egan moments later however saw play halted, with both requiring treatment while the latter needed to change his shirt.

Bolton’s pressure continued though thereafter, with Madine seeing his angled poke punched away by Bentley following a corner-kick, while the forward also saw a half-volley crash against the post with 13 minutes gone – an effort which the Bolton faithful were already celebrating as a goal.

The visitors almost snatched the lead against the run of play with 17 minutes on the clock however, with a combination of Ben Alnwick and David Wheater seeing Romaine Sawyers’ drive from 18 yards cleared away from danger.

The chance seemed to give the Bees a boost however, with Josh Clarke shot from a tight angle again being kept out by the Bolton keeper at his near post.

Madine proved his worth again meanwhile moments later, with a lobbed effort ensuring that Bentley was back-peddling to push the ball over the crossbar.

It was end-to-end stuff at Macron Stadium as the game reached its half hour mark, with it seemingly only a matter of time before the deadlock was broken.

And it was the visitors who did so with seven minutes of the first half remaining, with substitute Barbet curling home a free-kick from all of 30 yards.

A sucker punch for the Whites who had dominated proceedings for the most part until that point, they set about looking to level the scores.

And with six minutes of additional time indicated courtesy of the earlier injuries to Egan and Karacan, Bolton threw myself forward in a bid to equalise ahead of the break.

Try as they might however, they were still trailing as Darren England blew his whistle.

SECOND HALF

With no changes to either side at the break, proceedings got back underway at Macron Stadium.

And they came close inside four minutes as a goalmouth scramble ensued, with Wheater nor Madine able to turn the ball home from close range.

The visitors weren't for resting on their laurels however and were breaking forward at every opportunity looking to extend their lead.

The hour mark however saw Wanderers employ a change of tact, with Adam Le Fondre and Craig Noone coming into the mix in the place of Armstrong and Burke.

Moments later though, Brentford had their second of the game with Yennaris thundering home from all of 30 yards - a goal which even drew applause from the home faithful.

It could have been three a couple of minutes later, only for Alnwick to be the hero again as he kept out Clarke's angled drive with his feet.

It was frustrating stuff for the Whites as they sought a route back into the game, while with 16 minutes remaining Aaron Wilbraham was thrown into the mix in place of Robinson as Bolton went all out in attack.

Cullen unleashed an effort on the edge of the box meanwhile with 14 minutes to go, but the shot hit Karacan in the middle of the area en route.

Inside the final ten minutes however, the visitors had their third of the game as Watkins cut inside and drilled the ball into the top corner of the net from a tight angle.

And come the end of the 90, that was the final scoreline as Bolton fell to defeat.

Watch Wanderers host Brentford for just £15 this Saturday!

Phil Parkinson's men will host Brentford this Saturday and supporters can watch the game at Macron Stadium for just £15 for adults and £7 for concessions.

Family tickets are also available in the Carrs Pasties Family Stand and are priced at only £20 for one adult and one under 18 year-old or £40 for two adults and two under 18 year-olds.

Tickets are can be purchased in person at Bolton Central or by calling 0844 871 2932, option 2 then option 1. Alternatively, supporters can book their tickets online by clicking here.

Supporters looking to upgrade their match day experience for this fixture can purchase hospitality places in the Lion of Vienna Suite for only £60. This includes a delicious one-course meal plus a cushioned seat in a prime viewing location.

Season Ticket Holders can upgrade their ticket to the Lion of Vienna Suite for just £50.